Martin Luther King Day marked the beginning of the Week of Peace, Hope and Justice, a week focused on civil rights, equality and social movements.
Sponsored by the Pepperdine Volunteer Center (PVC) and the Office of Intercultural Affairs, the week is full of activities, events and trips aimed at recognizing and attempting to stand up against the injustices of the world. MLK day ushered in the week, reminding students all across campus that is it possible for one person to make an enormous difference that will affect the world forever.
“This year we are providing unique experiences for the campus to express how the Civil Rights Movement has affected their lives,” said Lucy Ryan, Special Events Coordinator at the PVC. “Our ultimate goal is to look at cultural diversity in new ways through activities such as artwork, comedy and open conversation.”
Pepperdine is hoping to continue and nurture this idea throughout the week and every day through its mission.
This year, the theme of the week is centered on cultural diversity, given that the Civil Rights Movement occurred more than 50 years ago. The Week of Peace, Hope and Justice is exploring and expanding on this theme by offering students an opportunity to experience and see first-hand some of the injustices people face nation-wide from education to economics and ethnicity.
Students all over campus have been participating in the week’s events. The week included a trip to the Museum of Tolerance on Wednesday, a volunteer day with the Dream Center in LA over the weekend and a continuing week-long art project. On Friday, students will present a comedy, art and culture show beginning at 7 p.m. in the HAWC.
We Art Aware, a student art club, is supplying brushes, paint and blank tiles for students creatively share their culture in the cafeteria between 11 a.m. and 1 p.m. every day of the week. The painted tiles will be combined into a commemorative work or art at the end of the week.
Friday’s show will feature two comedians who will discuss cultural diversity with a humorous twist. Diddy Riese will be served for the first 50 people in attendance.
The co-hosts of the week also wanted to highlight the many leaders of past social movements so that students could recognize those people who worked hard and oftentimes endlessly to make the world what it is today.
“We want to commemorate Martin Luther King Jr.’s life and his impact during the Civil Rights Movement,” Ryan said.
Another notable peacemakers is British abolitionist William Wilberforce. The week began Monday with a screening of “Amazing Grace,” a film detailing Wilberforce’s work. A panel discussion followed with the film’s own producer, Ken Wales and Pepperdine School of Law professor Ed Larson.
The inspirational week has encouraged and stimulated the students to work toward a brighter future for everyone by combating inequality on campus, nationwide and worldwide.
